Smoking allowed in the House of Commons bar - myth?

[rpguk]

I'd heard a few times that the bars at the House of Commons are exempt from the smoking ban. Mainly as pub talk kinda thing. The other thread on MP's expenses reminded me of this and I'm curious to know if it's true and if so why. Searching the net doesn't bring anything useful up, just lots of blog comments, message boards etc.

So I put it PH. Is it a myth or can someone shed some light?

[Brown and Boris]

Pub in Yorkshire is also claiming to be exempt.

Clause in the law says you can smoke inside in a designated research centre for research purposes. Landlady has designated her tap room ( appears to requitre no state permission for such designation) as a research centre. Smokers fill in a questionnaire about smoking whilst in there. She is sending the questionnaire to a University who want the questionnaires.

[groucho]

I think it's true. Isn't it something do with it being a royal household, or something like that.

[HRG]

My understanding is it's legally exempt as it's Crown property but they voluntarily don't smoke.

[pies]

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDM...

[Working Class]

rpguk said:

I'd heard a few times that the bars at the House of Commons are exempt from the smoking ban. Mainly as pub talk kinda thing. The other thread on MP's expenses reminded me of this and I'm curious to know if it's true and if so why. Searching the net doesn't bring anything useful up, just lots of blog comments, message boards etc.

So I put it PH. Is it a myth or can someone shed some light?

Its true, i was in there last week on the lash with Gordon brown. Best of it was i never paid for a thing, he claimed it all back on his expenses account!

[StevieBee]

I was at a do there on Saturday, access to said bar.

The entire building is smoke free. There is a courtyard by the bins area where those who do can, including MPs.

[Ganglandboss]

The house of Commons is exempt as it is a residence (the Palace of Westminster). It is technically legal to smoke there but it has self imposed the ban, as has the House of Lords.

[StevieBee]

Ganglandboss said:

The house of Commons is exempt as it is a residence (the Palace of Westminster). It is technically legal to smoke there but it has self imposed the ban, as has the House of Lords.

Nope. It's a public building with the exception of the residences of the Speaker and Serjeant-at-Arms. Anyone can visit (in theory!!)

It was the residence of Kings but hasn't been since early 1500.

Why do I know this? Because I spent Saturday evening looking for somewhere to have a crafty smoke and got chatting to our host about this very thing.

[Dogwatch]

Was previously exempt from the licensing laws though as it was crown property. MPs have never been too keen on being subject to the same laws they happily dump on us.

[pacey_sot]

I'm sure that i heard private members clubs could continue to smoke, i.e. allowing cigar smoking clubs etc. so i thought it fell under that remit? that it was considered a members club?

[Ganglandboss]

StevieBee said:

Ganglandboss said:

The house of Commons is exempt as it is a residence (the Palace of Westminster). It is technically legal to smoke there but it has self imposed the ban, as has the House of Lords.

Nope. It's a public building with the exception of the residences of the Speaker and Serjeant-at-Arms. Anyone can visit (in theory!!)

It was the residence of Kings but hasn't been since early 1500.

Why do I know this? Because I spent Saturday evening looking for somewhere to have a crafty smoke and got chatting to our host about this very thing.

Like the man in the orthopedic shoe, I stand corrected. Is it something to do with this?

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/...

[Ladyhayles]

While on a slightly related subject I have another House of Commons/MP's myth that I would like to check. I have been told on several occasions that MP's have a "shop" (for want of a better word) where they can order alcohol and tobacco at duty free prices???

Is this correct? And if so, why don't they have to pay the tax that they make everyone else pay?

[Caruso]

Ladyhayles said:

While on a slightly related subject I have another House of Commons/MP's myth that I would like to check. I have been told on several occasions that MP's have a "shop" (for want of a better word) where they can order alcohol and tobacco at duty free prices???

Is this correct? And if so, why don't they have to pay the tax that they make everyone else pay?

You're thinking of the Inns of Court, where alcohol duty is exempt for lawyers within the square mile.

[mybrainhurts]

rpguk said:

Smoking allowed in the House of Commons bar - myth?

Lithen carefully...

Thmoking allowed in the Houthe of Commonth bar, mith...?




Thilly thod....

[WestYorkie]

mybrainhurts said:

rpguk said:

Smoking allowed in the House of Commons bar - myth?

Lithen carefully...

Thmoking allowed in the Houthe of Commonth bar, mith...?




Thilly thod....

Have one! Thorry I Can't find the thmilies :-)

[mybrainhurts]

Thankth...